Perceived Challenges of Working Environment Among Emergency Department Nurses in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Emergency room nurses are faced with many challenges related to the nature of complex practices and the environment. Research has approved a number of characteristics of emergency department nurses in order to fulfill the required role. Objectives: To determine the perception of nurses of the Emergency Department to the challenges associated with their working environment. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used in four selected governmental hospitals in Hail. Among one hundred and seventy-five of Emergency registered nurses; One Hundred and Fifty-Eight emergency registered nurses were recruited conveniently based on the inclusion criteria. A closed ended questionnaire sheet was marked out by all the selected nurses to determine their perception towards challenges associated with their working environment. Results: In this study among the total population of Emergency Room staffs, 90 % of staffs were included; ages ranged between 23-29 yrs were 77.8%. Majority of female nurses were 88.6% most of the sample 83.5% hold bachelor’s degree in nursing. Moreover, 48.7% practicing as a nurse about 1-4 yrs. The ER nurses ranged from 1- 4 yrs of experience were 75.9%. Majority of 79.7% were working as a staff Nurse. More than half of the Non-Saudi were working in ER was 54.4%. The variables under the quality of environment for professionals, most of them shows bad perception in working environment so far in comfort zone were 27.8%, nursing assistance and technician, hours of work shift have higher in bad perception overall level of 22.7%. In regards the Cleaning were 29.7%, Quality of materials were 37.9%, Physician were 36.7%, Number of calls per shift were 39.2%. In determining the perception of Emergency Department nurse towards challenges associated with their working environment shows higher perception level with the mean value of 32.03 and standard deviation was 5.6. Conclusion: From this study we concluded that, the healthcare policy makers may have concern about health care providers. The working condition of the Emergency Room nurses Perceived that they have somewhat discouragement in their working environment. Some changes in reimbursement and the practice of health care delivery required hospital to change the way they operate. These results will also propagate the managers to re-define a development plan for the Emergency Department working Environment of the selected Hospitals, in hail. Keywords : Nurse, Perception, Emergency Department, Challenges, Working Environment. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-10-05 Publication date: May 31 st 2020